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nasa · 5 months

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A Geminid meteor streaks across the sky as the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft is rolled out by train to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Kazakhstan. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Make a Wish! How to See the Geminid Meteor Shower

Every December, we have a chance to see one of our favorite meteor showers – the Geminids. To help you prepare, we’ve answered some of your most commonly asked questions. Happy viewing, stargazers!

These radar images of near-Earth object 3200 Phaethon were generated by astronomers at the National Science Foundation's Arecibo Observatory on Dec. 17, 2017. Observations of Phaethon were conducted at Arecibo from Dec. 15 through 19, 2017. At time of closest approach on Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. PST (6 p.m. EST, 2300 UTC), the asteroid was about 6.4 million miles (10.3 million kilometers) away, or about 27 times the distance from Earth to the Moon. Credit: Arecibo Observatory/NASA/NSF

What are the Geminids?

The Geminids are caused by debris from a celestial object known as 3200 Phaethon striking Earth’s atmosphere. Phaethon’s origin is the subject of some debate. Some astronomers consider it to be an extinct comet, based on observations showing some small amount of material leaving its surface. Others argue that it has to be an asteroid because of its orbit and its similarity to the main-belt asteroid Pallas.

All meteors appear to come from the same place in the sky, which is called the radiant. The Geminids appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Gemini, hence the name “Geminids.” The graphic shows the radiants of 388 meteors with speeds of 35 km/s observed by the NASA Fireball Network in December 2020. All the radiants are in Gemini, which means they belong to the Geminid shower. Credit: NASA

Why are they called the Geminids?

All meteors associated with a shower have similar orbits, and they all appear to come from the same place in the sky, which is called the radiant. The Geminids appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Gemini, hence the name “Geminids.”

A Geminid streaks across the sky in this photo from December 2019. Credit: NASA

When is the best time to view them?

The Geminid meteor shower is active for much of December, but the peak will occur during the night of Dec. 13 into the morning of Dec. 14, 2023. Meteor rates in rural areas can be upwards of one per minute this year with minimal moonlight to interfere.

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What do I need to see them?

As with all meteor showers, all you need is a clear sky, darkness, a bit of patience, and perhaps warm outerwear and blankets for this one. You don’t need to look in any particular direction, as meteors can generally be seen all over the sky. If you want to take photographs, check out these helpful tips.

An infographic based on 2019’s meteor camera data for the Geminids. Credit: NASA

Do you have any advice to help me see the Geminids better?

Find the darkest place you can and give your eyes about 30 minutes to adapt to the dark. Avoid looking at your cell phone, as it will disrupt your night vision. Lie flat on your back and look straight up, taking in as much sky as possible.

A Geminid streaks across the sky in this photo from December 2011. Credit: NASA

What will the meteors look like?

According to Bill Cooke, lead for the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, “Most meteors appear to be colorless or white, however the Geminids appear with a greenish hue. They’re pretty meteors!” Depending on the meteor’s chemical composition, the meteor will emit different colors when burned in the Earth’s atmosphere. Oxygen, magnesium, and nickel usually produce green.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

#NASA #space #meteors #meteor showers #Geminids #asteroids #comets #science #sky #night #astronomy #astrophotography #YouTube

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astrophileous · 1 year

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Love Bugs (Pt. 05)

Pairing: Derek Morgan x Female Reader

Synopsis: You and Derek Morgan have an arrangement. At work, your relationship is strictly business. Under the sheets, it's all about pleasure. Nothing more, nothing less. Until, of course, your feelings start to get involved. Your situation is complicated enough without the unexpexted predicament that suddenly befalls upon you. But with a maniac serial killer on the loose, will you ever get the chance to make everything right?

Warning(s): psychopathic behaviors, kidnapping, captive situation, verbal and physical threats, threatening use of knife, curse words

Word Count: 2300-ish

Tag(s): @camilaheroine @crazyunsexycool @whateverrrrrrrrs @wifeyofeveryone @louderfortheback @marvelousgoldroses

Author's Note: HI I'M SORRY FOR THE DELAY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A CRAZY-FUCK-LOAD DAY I JUST HAD 😭 in summary: my sister had a breakdown, I almost succumbed to the hellhole of road rage, and someone in my life is possibly trying to get a divorce :) so yeah :) it was fcking crazy :)))) buuUUTT I managed to quickly revise and edit this (heavy emphasis on quickly in case there's any mistake found). as usual, you know the drill: LIKE+REBLOG+COMMENT pls pretty pls and thank you 🌹

Love Bugs Masterlist / Criminal Minds Masterlist

For a whole minute, the silence that conquered the entire bullpen would make a pin drop sound like an exploded grenade.

Everyone was scared to even breathe, let alone to say anything, to make any kinds of noise that would solidify the reality they were facing.

Not a single pair of eyes could jerk their gaze away from the screen as they watched the UnSub closing in on you. Pulling out a dagger and pressing it against your jaw before tilting your head just right so that you would look straight into the camera.

Derek flinched.

"Garcia," Hotch's voice was the first rip into the silence. When the tech analyst failed to answer his call, he tried again, "Garcia."

"Yes?" Penelope's eyes were watery. Her voice was wavering as she answered, "I-I'm sorry. Yes, sir?"

"I want you to start tracking down his location."

"I-I tried to do that, sir. Earlier. I couldn't... the signal, they kept being bounced around and I don't--

"Garcia." Hotch's voice was colder this time. "Try again."

Penelope immediately sprung into action, reaching for her laptop where the projector was connected.

"I'm sending units to her place," Hotch informed before making a quick call. As he waited for the line to connect, he turned to the others in the room. "Emily, (Y/L/N) said she was going to a hospital yesterday, try finding out which one she went to. Reid, JJ, start tracking her past movements, I want to know about every person she's had any contact with recently."

"How far back do you want us to go?" JJ asked.

"The day of the press conference," Hotch answered. "This must be why he's been lying low for a while. He's got his eyes on her since that day. If we can find out where she's been, we can find him."

Hotch pocketed his phone back after sending units to your home. The other three agents had all scurried away to fulfill Hotch's requests.

Derek, however, hadn't even moved an inch.

"Derek?" Hotch called out. When Derek didn't make a single gesture of acknowledgment, Hotch began to approach him. "Derek, do you--"

Hotch didn't manage to reach Derek's side before he was interrupted by the sound of the telephone ringing.

Penelope's eyes were frantic as they darted to the remaining people in the room. "I-Is that--"

"Garcia, get ready to trace the call," Hotch demanded. He moved swiftly to where the phone was located, glancing at Rossi who gave him a single nod of encouragement.

Taking a deep breath, Hotch put the phone on speaker. "FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit."

"Agent Aaron Hotchner?"

"This is he." Hotch waited for the other person to answer, but it never came. "Can I ask to whom am I speaking?"

"You know who I am, Agent."

"Do I?"

"Well, we have a very important mutual person in our lives. I know you. So you must also know who I am."

Hotch's eyes flickered towards Rossi, exchanging a conversation in the silent language which only those two could seem to understand.

"Are you talking about (Y/L/N)?"

"You know I do," the person answered. "You're watching right now, aren't you?"

"Yes, we are," Hotch confirmed. "We need to know if she's safe."

"Of course she's safe. I would never hurt her."

"Yes, I'm sure you wouldn't. But we still need confirmation, alright? It's just how this works," Hotch explained. "Please, can you pass the phone to Agent (Y/L/N)?"

A beat of silence passed. Hotch glanced back at the projector to make sure that the UnSub hadn't done anything untoward. Finally, after what felt like hours, he pressed the phone to your ear.

"Tell them you're okay, Darling," he commanded.

"H-Hotch?"

Derek stood straighter at the sound of your voice.

"(Y/L/N)." Your name almost sounded like a breath of relief out of Hotch's mouth. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Hotch."

Before you nor Hotch could say more, the UnSub tore the phone away and brought it back to himself.

"See? I told you she's fine."

Everyone's eyes were directed back to the screen, seeing your assailant unglue the dagger from your neck and walk straight towards the camera. Even in the darkness, his eyes were provoking. Arrogant. He never broke eye contact as he spoke his next words to the phone in his hand.

"I should thank you, Agent Hotchner."

"Thank me?"

"For giving me the opportunity to know such a beautiful creature in the first place."

The UnSub walked away from the camera, refocusing his attention back towards you. Your determined eyes never so much as faltered, even when he brought the tip of his blade on your skin, dragging it across your collarbones, neck, and back. Forceful enough for you to know not to cause any scene if you didn't want the blade to be plunged into your flesh, but sickeningly gentle as to prevent it from drawing blood.

"I know it was your idea to set up that press conference with Agent (Y/L/N) for me, Agent Hotchner. Wasn't it?"

Hotch gritted his teeth at the UnSub's taunt.

"So, really, I owe it all to you. If only you hadn't made that call--" the UnSub paused, touching your shoulder and leaning down until his lips brushed your temple, "--we would've never had the chance to be together like this."

Then, to everyone's horror, the UnSub's hand trailed away from your shoulder, down and down until it rested upon your belly.

"The theee of us," he sneered.

In that moment, Derek's entire world shifted under his feet.

Every cell in Derek's body went erratic once the true implications of the UnSub's words registered in his brain. His heart plunged into a void before restarting instantly into a sequence of thunders. Inch by inch, his body and soul were consumed by a fog filled with the worst snippet of dread and the darkest terror he had ever encountered in life.

"What is he talking about?" Derek questioned as soon as he had found his voice again. "Hotch?"

But the older man remained stoic in his place by the phone. On the other line, a booming laughter sounded.

"Oh? Did no one know about this?" the UnSub cooed. "Have you not told anyone about the good news yet, Darling?"

The clear panic in your face, along with the whimper that slipped past your lips, was the scissor to Derek's final resolve.

In big strides, he marched over to the phone, voice raw and splintered as he cried, "You sick son of a bitch."

The room stood still at the magnitude of fury laced within Derek's words.

Your voice was muffled when it came through the phone, but Derek heard every fiber of emotions in it all the same.

"Derek..."

"Derek?" Your captor tilted his head. "Ah. Agent Morgan?"

"You're a dead meat, do you hear me?"

"Morgan," Hotch warned sternly.

"So much rage," The UnSub suddenly mused. "I told you, Agent Morgan. There's no reason to worry here. I'm going to take care of them. They're in very good hands."

"Fucking bastard! You get your filthy hands off her," Derek fumed. "Get your fucking hands off my child."

Derek's admission was a butcher knife in the thick silence.

"My child?" the UnSub's voice broke through from the other end of the line. "Darling, what is he talking about?"

Your captor's question managed to lift some of the fog from Derek's head. Before he could begin to form any more words, Hotch pushed him to the side before pressing the mute button to block the noises inside the bullpen from filtering into the telephone line.

"Rossi, can you take over for a second?" Hotch asked before turning towards Derek, "Morgan, my office. Now."

Every one of Derek's movement was robotic as he followed Hotch away from the bullpen. As soon as the door to the office closed behind them, Hotch wasted no breath before stating his order, "I need you off the case, Morgan."

"Absolutely not."

"Morgan--"

"Hotch," Derek cut him off, eyes blazing with a ferosity matching that of a thunderstorm. "I'm not going to stand around and do nothing while she... while he still has her."

"The team and I will never let anything happen to her. To both of them," Hotch promised. "You need to trust us."

"I trusted you, too, last time, Hotch. Look where that got us."

He knew it wasn't fair. Derek realized it as soon as the last syllable had passed his lips. But Derek wasn't himself right at that moment, and Hotch understood it all too well.

Closing his eyes, Derek leaned back against the desk in Hotch's office. Exhaustion was the fruit of fright as it diverged in his bones. It raced along his bloodstream, reaching the deepest points of his entire being until there was no corner left for hope to fill.

"Would you have done it?" Derek asked eventually. "If any of us had told you to stand down when Foyet was holding Haley and Jack--if I told you to trust us--would you?"

"No," Hotch replied truthfully. "But this is different."

"How the fuck is this different?!"

"It's different because your personal feelings almost cost us (Y/N)'s life."

There was nothing Derek could say to counter Hotch's accusation.

Flashing scenes of the earlier phone conversation sped through Derek's mind. For a second there, right after the UnSub unknowingly declared your condition, Derek almost thought that he was on the brink of losing his complete sanity. All Derek remembered was red in his vision as he stalked towards the phone, shouting the first threats he could think of towards the UnSub, all the while failing to deduct how his rash behaviors could affect you later on.

The breath that Derek let out quivered in the air as he tried to stop thinking about what the UnSub might have planned to do to you in the wake of his action.

"She's pregnant, Hotch," Derek cried quietly. "He has them both. She's carrying my child and I... I didn't even know."

Derek didn't even realize he was crying until the burning ache inside his chest started to expand. The room around him was spinning. The only memory echoing in Derek's head was of the very last night the two of you had ever spent together--the night where he screwed up--and how you had kicked him straight to the curb because of his own idiocy.

"I fucked up, Hotch," Derek managed to croak out between his wretched sobs. "The last thing I said to her... God, what if I never get the chance to make it right again? What if the last memory I have of her is of the night I broke her fucking heart?"

Hotch didn't think he had ever seen Derek in such a state before. Gone was the capable and confident man that Hotch had the pleasure of knowing for the last few years. In his place was a broken shell of a man who looked like Derek, talked like Derek, but void of any semblance of life and spirit that Hotch always associated with the man.

The life and spirit that were gone in the absence of you in Derek's arms.

"Morgan, everything's going to be fine," Hotch tried again. "JJ and Reid are scouring everything to figure out her movements over the last couple of weeks. I've assigned Emily to find the hospital (Y/N) went to yesterday. We'll figure out who took her. End this for good."

Derek's gaze never strayed away off the ground. Hotch took a long breath before adding, "Morgan, we will find her--"

"How did you know she went to the hospital?"

The question came as a shock to either of them. Derek's eyes were more curious than incriminating, but the accusation behind them seemed to inflate with every second that passed by in Hotch's silence.

"You didn't seem surprised when the UnSub told us about her condition. Why?"

"Morgan--"

People liked to say that anger was the ultimate fuel for human beings.

And for Derek Morgan, anger was exactly the propulsion he needed to throw himself right off the edge, where the line between flaming vengeance and common sense had blurred together into one another.

It was the propulsion that, somehow, rationalized his instinct to surge forward and slammed Hotch back against the hard surface of the office wall.

The harsh impact knocked the air entirely out of Hotch's lungs, but the choked sound was stifled in Derek's ears by his own roaring wrath. Hotch almost didn't recognize the man beneath all of that hostility. The only thing left of Derek Morgan, in that moment, was his name.

"You knew?"

Each syllable not welded with rage in Derek's question was fused with betrayal instead.

"Morgan--"

"Answer me, goddammit!"

Hotch's resolve remained steadfast as he answered, "Yes."

That one simple word managed to drain every last bit of energy from Derek's body. He fell back a step, then twice, before the choking hold he had of Hotch was finally released.

"How long?"

"I only found out yesterday."

Derek pinched the bridge of his nose.

"She told you, but not me." He chuckled dryly. "Why the hell didn't you tell me, Hotch?!"

"I didn't know you were the father," Hotch said. "She never told me it was you."

Before his legs could give out, Derek sank on the chair in front of Hotch's desk. A million different thoughts were going haywire in the neurons of his brain. He wanted to scream. To flip the earth upside down and find the location where you were being held hostage. He just wanted the universe to stop messing with him and started giving him answers.

And then, five seconds later, the door to the office swung open.

Emily stood in the doorway, unassuming of the palpable tension lingering in the air. When she finally uttered her next words, Derek thought he could finally start to breathe again.

"We may have something," Emily announced to the room. "We think we know where (Y/N) is."

Derek flew out of the chair before anyone had the chance to say anything else.

He was coming to get you.

And this time, Derek had no intention of letting you go.

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dragonageconfessions · 3 months

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CONFESSION

I played all the dragon age games and now I finished Baulder's Gate 3 and I really enjoyed it despite not being too happy with Act 3 and how some of the characters have less content.

After playing BG3, I came to the realization that I believe both games should exist and one should not copy/imitate the other. I would personally miss all the companion banter if they got rid of it.

I believe people should let Dragon Age be Dragon Age and let Baulder's Gate 3 be Baulder's Gate 3. BioWare does some things better than Larian. Larian does some things better than BioWare. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE THE SAME.

And so help me if I see another post about the BG3 Studio need to take over Bioware, I am going to go off. I heard enough of that during the Witcher 3's heyday

Mod Note: Since you mentioned Witcher 3, I am going to share something. I used to get these massive manifesto sized submissions about how CD Projekt Red should take over Bioware. (I deleted them of course) I've received quite a few of them all the way to the release of Cyberpunk 2077. I have not received one since. I think many learned a difficult lesson that making shrines for companies for not being like the other companies really isn't a good thing because in the long run they will eventually end up doing the same things other companies do. And I have deleted about ten submissions about how Larian should take over Bioware. One was 2300 words

#Dragon Age Confessions #Dragon Age Series #baulder's gate 3 #Fandom Critical #Dragon Age

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literallyjusttoa · 1 year

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I always found it funny that Apollo is said to be 4000 or so years old in ToA, bc while that is really old mortal wise, it seems actually really young all things considered? I mean, he’s tens of thousands of years younger than humans on earth are, and that’s not even mentioning that half of his family was born long before humans came into existence, so they’ve all got at least like 20,000 years of life over him. That’s almost 5 times his whole life.

My fav idea regarding this is that Apollo and Artemis are the first Olympians to be born after mortals were made by Prometheus. This is kind of maybe supported in myth? Athena and Hephaestus are both active in versions of the mortal creation myth, but none of their younger siblings are shown. I like this bc I think that the younger children of Zeus (Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, and Dionysus) are connected to humans in a way that the rest of the gods are not. It’s the difference between living your whole life with mortals around or having them only show up once you’ve already been around for centuries.

I also like the (probably unintentional) implication Rick made about Apollo and Greece. Doing the math, it seems like Apollo is born sometime in the 2590’s B.C.E, tho it’s hard to be certain with the riordanverse’s mess of a time period. Regardless, he was born around the same time we see major civilization pick up in the Cyclades. Some of our first art pieces from Ancient Greece actually come from this exact time period (there are figurines from Syros and Keros that date to 2700-2300 B.C.E. The one from Keros is even a male lyre player!) This implies that Artemis and Apollo’s birth coincided directly with the birth of Greece. Good for them!

This all also adds to my favorite theory that riordanverse Apollo is the world’s most specialist little boy that connects mortals and gods and is super powerful and also awesome and not like other girls and he could totally overthrow his father for funzies and the fates would applaud him for it.

#my blorbo was born alongside the birth of Ancient Greece so your blorbo has nothing on him #trials of apollo #toa apollo #lester papadopoulos #sunny speaks #headcanon #long post

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kckt88 · 5 months

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Take My Breath Away II.

Summary:

Vaeryna makes a friend, meanwhile Aemond is convinced that his betrothed is hiding something, so he searches her room and makes a discovery.

Warning(s): Language, Angst.

Word Count: 2300.

GREENS WIN - SLOW BURN - ENEMIES TO LOVERS.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon or Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are very much appreciated.

After that first disastrous dinner, Vaeryna and Aemond had taken to ignoring one another.

She spent her time in the library or flying with Cannibal.

As he was too large for the dragon pit, he had taken to resting near Vhagar, which sometimes led to some slightly awkward encounters with Aemond, but Vaeryna always turned away from the kinslayer. Not wanting to speak, lest she say something else to upset his obviously fragile ego.

They were supposed to be spending time to get to know one another, as some type of courtship, but Vaeryna didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

If she could get away with roasting him alive, she would do it in a second, that would serve the smug shit right.

When she returned to the Red Keep after flying with Cannibal, Vaeryna stopped in the gardens and took a moment to appreciate the momentary silence.

Until inevitably of course Ser Arryk appeared and resumed his watch over her. The guard had taken to remaining a safe distance away from Cannibal lest he get eaten. As her boy could be hot tempered and prone to outbursts of violence should he feel as though his rider was under threat.

Even though she was his first rider, their hearts had been entwined from the very moment they took the skies for the first time and after she had lost her family, Cannibal had taken it upon himself to protect her with vicious fury when necessary.

Suddenly a soft tapping on her arm broke Vaeryna out of her daydreams.

The small silver haired girl looked up, her eyes wide and curious.

“You must be Jaehaera?” asked Vaeryna as she crouched down.

The girl nodded and wordlessly took Vaeryna’s hand and led her further into the garden.

“Pretty, aren’t they?” asked Jaehaera as she pointed to the butterflies.

“You know, there are some people who believe that butterflies, especially the white ones, are our lost loved ones coming to visit us” replied Vaeryna.

“D-Do you believe that?”.

“Yes, I do. It gives me comfort to think that my mother is here in some form” said Vaeryna.

“M-My mother is dead too” said Jaehaera firmly.

“I-I know. My father and brothers are also dead” muttered Vaeryna as she sat on a old wooden bench.

“Both my brothers are dead. I’m the only one left”.

“I have two half-sisters, but I haven’t seen them in a long time” replied Vaeryna.

“A-Are you lonely?” asked Jaehaera as she sat next to Vaeryna.

“Sometimes. But I have my Cannibal”.

“M-My father is still here, but I don’t see him much. My uncle Aemond visits me a lot but mostly I’m with my grandma” said Jaehaera.

“My mother once told me that the ones who love us never really leave us. They exist in our hearts, and we can feel them every time it beats”.

“A-Are you really going to marry my uncle Aemond?” asked Jaehaera.

“I guess so” muttered Vaeryna.

“He’s lonely and sad too. People call him names” muttered Jaehaera.

“They do?” asked Vaeryna curiously.

“Yes. They call him kinslayer and some of the ladies at court say horrible things about his scar” replied Jaehaera.

“Sometimes people can be cruel” said Vaeryna.

“You’re not cruel”.

“There are times where I have been” said Vaeryna sadly.

“Will you be cruel to uncle Aemond when you get married?” asked Jaehaera.

“How did you know about me and Aemond anyway?” mumbled Vaeryna avoiding Jaehaera’s question.

“I heard grandma talking about it. She doesn’t seem to like you very much”.

“That’s my fault. I said things I shouldn’t have done, but in truth I don’t like her all that much either” said Vaeryna.

“Maybe both of you should say you’re sorry” suggested Jaehaera.

“Do you think that would work?” asked Vaeryna.

“Maybe, but you won’t know unless you try” replied Jaehaera.

“JAEHAERA” shouted Alicent.

“Oh no” gasped Jaehaera as she wrapped her arms around Vaeryna.

“I-Is everything ok?”.

“I ran away from my septa. She’s mean” exclaimed Jaehaera.

Vaeryna smiled slightly at Jaehaera’s attempts to hide. But then she looked up and spotted Aemond silently observing them.

“There you are. Septa Una told me you ran away from her lessons again” snapped Alicent.

“It-It was my fault Your Grace. I brought her to the gardens” said Vaeryna.

“YOU?” shouted Alicent.

“Apologise Your Grace, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Jaehaera just looked a little sad and I thought she would like to see the butterflies” said Vaeryna quickly.

“I-I wanted to come” muttered Jaehaera.

“Jaehaera. Y-You spoke?” questioned Alicent stunned.

“W-What?” asked Vaeryna confused as Jaehaera took her hand.

“Jaehaera hasn’t spoken since Helaena passed-“ said Aemond as he slowly approached, his arms folded behind his back.

“-Oh” replied Vaeryna surprised.

“You’re the first person she’s spoke to since then”.

“P-Please sit with me in the gardens tomorrow” begged Jaehaera.

“If that’s ok with your grandmother” muttered Vaeryna.

“As long as you promise to stop running away from your Septa” replied Alicent.

“I promise. Thank you, grandmother”.

“Now come on back to your lessons” said Alicent.

“See you tomorrow” shouted Jaehaera as she was led away from the gardens.

“That was kind of you” said Aemond.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” replied Vaeryna.

“You never brought Jae to the gardens, she escaped her Septa and came here alone”.

“Maybe she did. Maybe she didn’t. Who knows” shrugged Vaeryna.

“Still, it was kind of you” said Aemond.

“She’s a child. I bear no ill will towards her”.

“Just those around her?” asked Aemond curiously.

"Those who deserve it more like" said Vaeryna coolly.

Aemond scoffed slightly and cast his eye skyward as the shadow of Vhagar passed overhead.

"She wasn't very happy with the presence of your Cannibal at first, but I think she has grown used to him" said Aemond.

"Most other dragons are too afraid of Cannibal" replied Vaeryna.

"Well he does feast on the flesh of his own kind, his reputation speaks for itself".

"As does yours uncle" muttered Vaeryna.

Aemond stood next to Vaeryna in silence as the wind blew through the gardens.

“This does not belong to you” said Vaeryna as she reached forward and ran her fingers along the hilt of Dark Sister.

“It was gifted to me by the King as a symbol of my victory” replied Aemond smirking.

“Lucky stroke of a chancer more like” muttered Vaeryna.

“Not like it’s previous owner is coming back to claim it”.

Vaeryna glared at Aemond before she raised her hand and attempted to slap him, before he caught her wrist, digging his blunt nails into her skin.

“Let go of me kinslayer” snarled Vaeryna.

“You dare attack a-“ muttered Aemond his attention caught on the thin white scar that graced Vaeryna’s palm.

Vaeryna tried to snatch her hand back, but Aemond gripped it tighter as he brought her palm closer to his face.

“How did you get this scar?” asked Aemond curiously.

“Like it’s any of your business” snapped Vaeryna as she finally managed to yank her hand out of Aemond’s grasp.

“Tell me” ordered Aemond.

“Fuck you” snarled Vaeryna as she turned on her heel and fled the garden.

Since that day in the gardens, Aemond had become convinced that Vaeryna was hiding something.

He takes to observing her as often as he can without casting aside his own duties.

At first nothing seems out of the ordinary, she visits the library, flies with her Cannibal and spends time with Jaehaera in the gardens.

Then one of her maids reports to him that Vaeryna has a small, locked box hidden in her wardrobe.

Aemond waited until Vaeryna had finished her breakfast and took her usual route to the library, then he entered her chambers.

He looked around the room and paused when he noticed some of the books on the desk, he approached the desk with mild curiosity.

She had an assortment of books. History, philosophy, and poetry. Vaeryna wasn’t one of those pretty empty-headed ladies that flounced around court moaning about dress patterns or the taste of cheap wine, she was obviously well educated.

As he walked around Vaeryna’s chambers he could scent faint traces of lavender in the air, it reminded him of when he was younger, and she was living at the Red Keep.

Neither of their cradle eggs had hatched, so whilst everyone else had their dragons, they had each other.

Vaeryna would steal cakes from the kitchens, and they would hide from the cook in the gardens so they could eat them.

When he was a boy, he would often pray to the gods that one day Vaeryna would be his wife, and in some twisted way the gods had finally answered his prayers.

But he was no longer that little boy and she was no longer the girl would steal cakes.

Aemond shook his head as he opened the wardrobe door, now was not the time for reminiscing about his youthful exploits or the ridiculous crush he once had on his bastard niece.

Vaeryna’s riding leathers and dresses were hung neatly and her night dresses were folded and tucked away on a small shelf.

Aemond carefully moved the hanging clothes out of the way and soon found the wooden box.

He took the box from it’s place in the wardrobe and set it on the desk, it was locked. The key he knew was on a chain around Vaeryna’s neck.

Aemond took his dagger from it’s sheath and jammed it into the edge of the box, after some less then gentle manoeuvring, the lock snapped, and he opened the box.

There was a seahorse pendant, a Valyrian steel necklace, a gold ring, a few scraps of parchment that had some kind of childish scribbling on, some dried flower petals and letters.

Aemond read a few of the letters and noticed they were mostly from Jace. Some appeared to be pointless anecdotes and news from his time at Winterfell. But there were others, that could only be described as love letters.

‘Falling in love with you has been the best thing for me in this life. I still wonder how such a beautiful, loving, and caring girl can love someone like me. I think I have just been lucky. I promise to always be there for you, to keep you happy and smiling, and to never stop loving you. Please accept my humble attempt at trying to express my feelings. Your presence lights up my life. You make me feel safe and loved with your warm embrace. There is no one else I’d rather spend my life with.

I love you,

Jacaerys

Aemond frowned as he picked up another letter.

‘You may not know, but you are the only one who will rule my heart. No matter how old I get, my love for you will grow with each passing day. You are the sun that lights up my world, the fresh breeze in the morning that wakes me up, and the inner voice that comforts me when I’m struggling. I love you more than words can express.

Love,

Jacaerys.

Aemond took another letter from the box, his hands shaking as he read the messy scribbled writing.

‘I know things may seem impossible right now. But we must wait until mother sits the Iron Throne. Then we can be together properly. For now, we must remain as we are. I will not cost mother her alliance with the Velaryon’s. I miss you so much my love, I dream of holding you in my arms. We must remain steadfast and see this war to its end’.

The remaining letters were from Rhaenyra, but as he read one, Aemond noticed that odd pieces of parchment had been torn so he couldn’t read the rest of the letter.

In fact, all of the letters from Rhaenyra had pieces ripped from them. Like someone was trying to deliberately conceal or remove what other information the letters had originally contained.

What was for certain, was that Vaeryna had obviously been involved in some illicit relationship with her strong bastard brother Jacaerys.

Aemond was far to engrossed in his discovery that he failed to notice that Vaeryna had returned to her chambers.

“Who gave you permission to enter my chambers?” asked Vaeryna.

“I am a Prince; I will go wherever I please” snapped Aemond.

“Does that Princely right also grant you leave to rifle through my private things”.

“Good job I did, otherwise I wouldn’t have discovered your involvement with Jace” said Aemond firmly.

“My involvement with Jace is nothing to do with you” replied Vaeryna sharply.

“Have you bedded him?” asked Aemond.

“Would it matter if I had?” muttered Vaeryna.

“DID YOU BED HIM?” raged Aemond as he seized Vaeryna by the upper arms.

Vaeryna seemed to hesitate for a moment, delighting in Aemond's anger.

“Yes. I went to bed with him” said Vaera smirking.

“You are to be my wife, yet you sullied yourself with that bastard boy” snarled Aemond.

“Should a wife not lay with her husband” retorted Vaeryna smugly.

“WHAT?”

“Oh, come on, you saw the scar on my palm, you knew what it was from” said Vaeryna.

“Y-You were married t-to him?” exclaimed Aemond.

“We had a Valyrian ceremony in the Vale” replied Vaeryna as she wrenched herself from Aemond’s vice like grasp.

“Your nothing but a whore” snarled Aemond.

“Guess I’m your perfect woman then, considering you have a thing for whores, but then again I’m not old enough, am I?”

“Careful” warned Aemond.

“Truth hurts, does it?” mocked Vaeryna.

“You know nothing of Alys” snarled Aemond.

“Tell me how it feels knowing that you were nothing to Alys other than my father’s sloppy seconds?” said Vaeryna smiling.

“S-She loved me” exclaimed Aemond.

“Even after you slaughtered all of House Strong in your temper?” asked Vaeryna.

“Your father-“

“-Alys did what she had to in order to survive, and you were all too eager to believe the honeyed words she whispered in your ear as she took your cock” said Vaeryna.

Aemond advanced on Vaeryna before he thought better of it and stormed out of her chambers, slamming to door in his wake.

“Guess the truth really does hurt” muttered Vaeryna as she picked up the discarded letters.

#house of the dragon #aemond targaryen #hotd aemond #aemond x oc #hotd fanfic #aemond fanfiction #aemond fic #aemond x original female character #hotd fic #prince aemond #aemond #aemond one eye #alicent #alicent hightower #jaehaera targaryen

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hometoursandotherstuff · 5 months

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This 2019 castle house in St. George, Utah has been removed from the market. 8bds, 10ba, last year assessed at $5,052,900. I'm thinking that it hasn't sold b/c it's kind of cold and in some areas, creepy. Take a look at this one.

Look at the sheer size of the vast grand entrance hall. Yikes! There's a TV over by the corner fireplace. Is this supposed to be a living room? Can you imagine the utility bill in this place?

The kitchen and everyday dining area. Wow, I wonder if that light fixture is a real Chihuly.

The kitchen's huge and has sleek black cabinetry. I think that the area to the right must be for a dining room.

Looks like a pantry.

The laundry room is like a laundromat.

Huge home office.

I don't know what this is. Could be the home theater?

This is fun. Two chutes that come down to land in a foam pit.

Well, let's go upstairs and check out the bedrooms.

There's a fireplace and den type area on the upstairs landing.

Not lovin' the primary bedroom. It's gigantic, but kind of cold.

The closet looks like it has a pulley system for the clothing on the upper racks.

The en-suite has a tub in the middle separating a double shower.

Here's one of the other 8 bds.

And, its en-suite.

This looks like a children's room, so I wonder if this is where the chutes to the foam pit come down from.

Another bedroom with an en-suite.

This is the most interesting bedroom and en-suite.

Here's a covered patio, but the grounds aren't finished yet.

See, it's just dirt.

I imagine that there will be a pool and everything.

Actually, according to the plans, it looks like 2 pools or a pool and a pond.

Plus there's also an apt. Maybe it's for a caretaker.

#castle houses #mansions #stone houses #houses #new construction #house tours #home tour

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diabolus1exmachina · 2 years

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OSI 20M TS

The car developed by Ghia for Ford would be called the OSI 20M TS, or alternatively the OSI-Ford 20M TS or the Ford OSI 20M TS.It was a handsome coupe thanks to the design work of Sergio Sartorelli – also the stylist of the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, the Fiat 2300 S Coupe, the Fiat 126, and a range of other cars. The car was produced in two key versions, both with essentially identical bodies. The key difference was the 2.0 Ford V6 fitted to earlier cars and the 2.3 liter V6 fitted to later cars.From an engineering perspective the cars were relatively standard for the era, with a steel unibody inner shell, MacPherson strut front suspension, a live rear axle on leaf springs, front disc brakes, and rear drums.The elegant design of the 20M TS is still winning it fans today, few people who see them can identify them due to their rarity, and there’s a committed enthusiast base in Europe who find and restore them.The OSI 20M TS was only produced in 1967 and 1968, some say 2,000 were made, others say 2,200, and some even say 3,500. The one thing that all agree on is that there are 200 or fewer remaining today.

#OSI 20M TS #Ghia #Ford #v6 #Sergio Sartorelli #Volkswagen Karmann Ghia #fiat 2300 s coupe #Fiat 126

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italiancarssince1946 · 6 months

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1963 Pininfarina Fiat 2300 S Targa

My tumblr-blogs: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/germancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/frenchcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/englishcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/italiancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/japanesecarssince1947

#1963 #pininfarina #fiat 2300 s targa

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oddballwriter · 7 months

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Dwelling in the Night, Part Two: Neck and Neck

Series Masterlist

Pt. 1 - Pt. 3 Pt. 4

Summary: The MoonKnight system continues to have run-ins with the shadowy figure that they've come to nickname The Silhouette, lurking and dealing with crime in the same area that they do. There's more communication between the two vigilantes but still no answered questions. Simply just a mutual respect for each other despite the different methods they use. A the same time, Steven tells more about their new neighbor Y/N, and even shows them a few things. However, it seems like the more Steven gets to know them, the stranger they seem. And Jake seems to be picking up on a few things in both cases.

Warnings: The reader (Y/N) is a vampire and their source of sustenance is criminals. The action of said method and thus killing is never written or depicted, only implied. Reader lying to the boys. Mention of Harrow. The boys kind of, technically, break into the reader's apartment if you squint. It's not depicted but the reader is in the coffin that was mentioned in the original writing, aka part one, so possibly a claustrophobia warning. The reader, in their lying, claims to be on a liquid diet and also lies saying that it's doctor ordered, so if you have any medical traumas involving diets then a warning for that.

Author’s Snip: No one asked for a part two to the original, I just came up with the idea of adding to it. I'm aware that I still have the Unexpected Addition mini-series and have yet to work further on part three of that but I just wanted to self-indulge considering my love for vampire content and more so my desire to see more vampire content where it is the reader who is the vampire of the story. So yeah. I would gladly make more with this idea but if you all would be so kind as to put your ideas in my inbox once I open up requests again, which MAY be soon. No promises though.

Notes: When I was proofreading this I found that some parts of the story were copied into other places which was so fucking weird. I felt like I was going insane. I think I fixed it and got rid of the extra, but if anything loops, that's why.

Anyways this intro is really long, I’ll shut up now. Enjoy!

Word Count: 2300~

There was a rhythm to the Silhouette, as the boys have named them,’s work when they looked at everything more deeply. They once a month and go for more dangerous criminals like muggers and potential assailants. They also usually stick to a particular block that has an issue with a higher crime rate. At least they used to stick to one specific block until they found another body, with the signature bitten throat, sitting hidden next to a garbage dumpster in an alleyway.

Marc and the rest of the system groaned together when the signs of the Silhouette started coming up. They figured that they would stay and deal with the crooks on their block while Moonknight did the rest of the city. But it seems that they weren’t free of crossing paths with this ‘fellow vigilante’ anytime soon.

And low and behold, here they are now in an alleyway with Moonknight, Marc, standing on the brick ground and Silhouette standing in the cover of the shadows that the lights couldn’t pierce through. The only difference this time around is that there’s no victim or dead, or just scared shitless, criminal that the other bumped into.

“Why the hell are you here?” Marc questioned, holding a stance that was both meant to be imposing and signaling that he was over these types of meetings. “I’m picking off perps. Same as you.” the Silhouette explains. “I thought you had your block? Why’d you move over here?” Marc demanded quickly after the figure spoke. “The criminals have dried up. There’s hardly anyone who lurks around there now, so I have to move spots.” the Silhouette explains matter-of-factually. “Gee, I wonder why,” Marc mutters under his breath before speaking to them again. “What’s your deal anyway, huh? ‘You some type of type of righteous maniac? You seem to have a theme with taking all these bastards’ blood.” Marc questions again.

“I need the blood. I take blood from dangerous criminals to make the means of getting it slightly more ethical.” the Silhouette claims as they stare back at Marc with their faint glowing eyes, “Do some good with the dirty.” they phrase.

Marc sits with that for a moment, not sure how to feel about what they just said. It feels familiar to Harrow’s ideals, but at the same time, this person isn’t making a cult and planning on making a ‘perfect and pure’ world. Instead, they’re just picking off some unpleasant bits that cruise around the streets at night. But it’s not exactly the same as their Moonknight work either. Marc, Steven, and Jake have a job of protecting those who wander and roam under the moon. This person sounds more like that of a mutual symbiotic relationship. Like how a bird can get something out of picking the ticks off of an animal's back, you, apparently, get something out of taking the blood from the crooks that dwell on a block.

“Can I ask what you do with all that blood?” Marc’s morbid curiosity makes him ask. “Can I ask how you got into your role as a hero of the night and moon?” the Silhouette asks back, the tone of their voice indicating that they were echoing him. “I don’t have to tell you anything. It’s none of your concern.” Marc replies. “Then it’s the same answer for you from me.” they quip back. “That’s not really on the same level…” Steven comments from the back of Marc’s mind, to which Marc just repeats back to the Silhouette. “I’m not doing anything bad with it. I can assure you that.” the Silhouette responds.

”So should we just ask them the obvious question, or…?” Jake budded in from the reflection of a puddle. “No. We are not. That’s a stupid question.” Marc says glancing at his alter with a volume that was meant to go unheard, but judging by the confused movements of the Silhouette’s eyes, they still heard it. “Don’t pay attention to that,” he tells the figure.

“Is this the part where I disappear into the darkness of this alley? Or would you like to chat more?” the Silhouette asks with a tone has Marc imagining the cheeky smirk on their face. “Depends. Have you gotten your criminal killing done?” he remarks. “I almost got one but I think they saw me for a second and decided to leave instead of do anything.” the shadowy figure mentions, “And you seem to be calling dibs at the moment. So I think I’ll do my work some other time.” they claim.

“It was nice talking to you.” the Silhouette says before stepping back into the deeper shadows and disappearing into what was thin air yet again.

🩸🩸🩸

"Oh bugger," Steven muttered under his breath, drawing the rest of the system's attention. "What's the matter?" Marc asked. "I completely forgot that they sleep during the day and I've went and opened their door." Steven explains, referring to none other than you. "I just wanted to return the book that they gave me. I should have waited." he scolds himself.

"Well, might as well go in anyways in case you did wake them up," Marc says, "It's probably for the best since I don't see a key in your hand, so that means they had the door unlocked." he points out in addition.

Steven huffed and took a deep breath before opening the door again and stepping in. But as he looked around for what he was expecting to be you sleeping in your bed, he found no one and nothing around. Steven lets go of his breath, glad that he didn't actually disturb you like he thought he did.

"Well, this is kind of worse. Their door is unlocked and they aren't even home. Good thing it's just us." Marc comments.

"Is that a fucking coffin in their living room?" Jake asks.

Steven looks over to see the same coffin you showed him when he helped you drag in your bed frame set a while back. "Oh, yeah. It's part of their aesthetic decor. Isn't it interesting? " Steven said. "They use it like a coffee table." the Brit explains as he walks closer to the hunk of wood.

"It's a coffee-in table. If you will." Steven jokes, making the rest groan at the pun.

"It's genuine though. They said they got it from a funeral place that was selling old ones that they still had in their inventory." Steven mentions as he crouches down so Marc and Jake can get a closer look. "See. Real wood and everything." he adds as he knocks on the scratched polished wood.

"Freaky." Marc comments, both admiring and slightly weirded out by the choice of furniture. "What do they have inside?" Jake asks. "It's empty." Steven answers, "But I'm sure they could store loads of things in there." he assures.

Steven gets back up and places the book he borrowed from you on top of the coffin before he walks towards a desk and writes on a sticky note writing "Thank you for the book! But you should really be careful and lock your door when you leave. I accidentally opened it when trying to give this back. -Steven" and placing it on top of the coffin too.

"Open some curtains before you leave, Steven. It's so dark in here." Marc comments, but Steven refuses, "No. I've already gone touching enough of their stuff without them even being here.".

"I've even let myself in without asking or having a key." he adds.

🩸🩸🩸

Jake wasn't typically the brains or the planner of any of the tasks the system gets up to. He's usually the backup for when things get too much for Marc and Steven. But that doesn't mean he's an idiot, quite the opposite actually, he's often the one who notices patterns and themes that the other two don't pick up on. They call him paranoid when he points it out or thinks he's being an asshole and making snarky jokes.

But when Jake senses something, he investigates it, thoroughly.

Jake might not be able to control the front as well as Marc can, but when he's there, he can stay via focusing on something, and the others can co-front. Which makes way for Steven to see Jake at their desk looking through things like newspaper clippings and what seem to be notes.

The clippings had the same topic judging by their headlines. New Hero or New Threat?, The Killer of Killers, Brutal Killings Scare off Crime, Questionable Hero in the Shadows, Nighttime Duo?, Silhouette Follows Crime to New Hunting Grounds.

"You're looking into our acquaintance?" Steven questions. "I just want to understand what exactly their deal is," Jake answers. "We heard them and Marc's conversation. They don't want to disclose that even if it's strange and disturbing." Steven reminds, but Jake shifts in his chair unsatisfied with that answer.

"I think I already know what they do with it anyway." Jake claims. "Jake, mate. Don't tell me you're starting to think what I think you're thinking." Steven remarks. "What do you think I'm thinking?" Jake inquires. "You know what I think you're imagining." Steven exudes, "You're thinking that they're some type of vampire or something silly like that.".

Jake looks for any surface that might reflect this fellow alter on it, landing on the reflection from the glass pencil holder. "Do you not believe in vampires?" Jake asks as if Steven should. Steven rolls his eyes at such a dumb-sounding question. "Of course not? How the bloody hell do you?" Steven exclaims.

"Steven, mí amigo. We're the alters of a guy who's died and came back from the dead two separate times, which he can see in his reflections. And we work for a god of the moon and have fought a former worker of his who could kill using magic." Jake lists off all while looking directly at the Brit in his appearance in said reflection so that he can prove his point. "And you don't think that there is a chance that maybe, just maybe, other forms of the paranormal also exist?" Jake comes back around.

Steven looked back at Jake, realizing how dumb his stance on not thinking vampires exist is now. "Okay. So maybe they are." Steven says, "But why are you so concerned about it? It seems like they're just feeding themself." he asks.

"I just feel a bit off about the fact that it seems like their work in killing criminals is only backed by the fact that they can use it to get their food," Jake answers. "What happens when the crime pool dries up completely? Who will they bite the throats of next?" Jake inquired, making a new point. "Just want to make sure we know who we're dealing with then." Jake concludes.

The sudden knock on the door causes the two of them to jump a bit. "Who the hell could that be?" Jake grumbles. "Are you expecting anybody?" Jake asks but Steven shakes his head. Jake gets up once a second knock comes, heading towards that door. "Who is it?" Jake calls.

Your voice answers from the other side.

"Oh shit." Jake whispers before switching out with Steven.

Steven unlatches and unlocks the door to show you standing just beyond the door frame. "Hello." he greets, "What brings you over here?".

"They needed to check my smoke detectors with the fire alarm check." you explain, "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you or if you're busy. I just have nowhere else to really go while they check them out and I don't want to be in the same room as they do all that." you explain further.

"Oh," Steven chimes, "No problem. I don't mind you spending some time here." he smiles. "Come on in." Steven says as he walks away from the frame to let you in.

He walks deeper into his flat as you come inside. "Would you like something? A snack? Some tea, even though it's too early for that." he offers. "No. I'm fine." you say as you look around and get a good look as you slowly stride on the same path into his flat. "It might be a bit of a mess. I wasn't expecting anyone to come over today." Steven apologizes as he puts away Jake's notes and newspaper clippings into a drawer.

"It's no proble-" you speak, but stop mid-sentence and make a face. "What's the matter?" Steven worries. "Nothing. It's just..." you say as you stand in his living room, "Did you eat some garlic earlier." you ask.

"I did. I had some garlic bread last night with my dinner. Is it still around?" Steven answers as he opens up a window near the kitchen to make the remaining air get out. "It is." you confirm, "Sorry. I just have a sensitive sense of smell and garlic is just a really strong smell so it makes me pause when I smell it." you explain. "It's okay," Steven remarks, "In all honesty, I don't care for the smell much either." he adds.

"I'm making something nice for dinner tonight. You're welcome to join me, I'm able to make enough for two." Steven offers again. "No. It's fine. I have a strict diet." you say. "Oh, if you're vegan it's perfectly fine. So am I." Steven tries to say but you cut him off. "No. Like..." you stammer, "I'm on a liquid diet. Doctor's orders." you explain.

"Oh. I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Steven apologized. "I hope it's nothing serious." he concerns.

"Judging by how pale they are, it looks like they need to eat some meat." Jake mutters.

"Come to look at them, they look like they match the decor of their place a bit too well." he thinks, but Steven, again, brushes him off.

#moon knight #moonknight #moon knight x reader #moonknight x reader #steven grant #marc spector #jake lockley #steven grant x reader #marc spector x reader #jake lockley x reader #vampire reader #vampires #vampire au #vampire!reader #gender neutral reader

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